Shepard's Ocean ~by Shepard

Last week was so much fun. Mommy and Daddy put everything we owned in the car and we drove a long way. Somewhere, we picked up Grandma. There were lots of people at lunch when we stopped to pick up Grandma. I had trouble concentrating on eating because I was so excited to see my cousins and my Grandma. I'm not sure how they expect me to sit still when there are things to explore and I wasn't hungry anyway. And I didn't want to get back in the car because I was afraid something might fall on me. Mommy assured me I was safe. But that beach towel was making faces at me.

Gigi showed me the card game.

(Mommy says if you click on the pictures you can see them better.)

We got to a new house (with STAIRS!!!) and Gigi and Pops were there too! There were lots of fun things at the house to play with. Something called vertical blinds, a tree inside, stairs! and a special hiding place behind Pops' bed. Sometimes I like to go there and make a shoo-wee.
 

Daddy rubbed "ocean lotion" all over me and on my face and my ears and I wore my special water clothes and Dora diaper and went to the ocean. I love the white waves except when they hit me in the face and the water tasted bad. Mommy and Daddy and Grandma and Gigi all took turns helping me jump the waves. I didn't like going in the part where my feet couldn't touch.

Gig's lap was a good place to rest.

We ate food on the beach. I was unsure about my yogurt.

 Being at the ocean makes you sleepy. A few times I took my nap out there so I could get more energy to run around more. It takes a lot of energy when you wake up before 6 am. I couldn't understand why no one felt like playing with me so early. There was so much to do!

Apparently, I fell asleep and someone took a picture. I blame Mommy.

We went to a place called Savannah. I walked forever holding Grandma and Gigi's hands. But then I was really tired of walking and just wanted to run free. I pretty much feel that way all the time, but it seems to upset the tall people. They don't like for me to run free. They say things about moving cars and falling in the river. We didn't stay very long in Savannah. That's good because I needed another nap. I did get to see a trolley and have ice cream. I like Savannah. Ding ding!! That's what the trolley says.

Minnie Mouse lives in Savannah.

 I got a lot of practice going up and down the stairs and even learned how to go down stairs on my bottom. I also tried the swimming pool, but I might like the ocean better. The best part about the pool was throwing in Mommy's "boats" and watching them float. (Mommy's note: "boats" were my black flip flops. I wear a size 8.5. I wouldn't classify that size as a boat and chose not to take his comment personally.)

Mommy is very pale. She says it's ok because she won't look like a baked potato when she's 50.

Gigi and Pops made sure their patch of sand didn't go anywhere.

Daddy. My favorite.

Grandma showed me how to play with my cool sand toys.

We ate at the Boathouse and there was a giant forklift that moved entire boats. It was fun to watch. The french fries were also good.

We walked down the pier near the Boathouse and saw big birds and a giant alligator in the water.

We went on walks at our new house and saw bunny rabbits, alligators and lots of birds. The bunny rabbit almost let me pet him.  I also saw a turtle.


 

Daddy is looking for alligators.

BUNNY!

Alligator.

It was the best week ever.

Happy Birthday, Daddy! ~by Shepard

Today is my Daddy's birthday. Mommy helped me make a sign and decorate it since I'm growing and sleeping a lot and Daddy had to go to work before I got to give him a birthday hug. She put the picture on facebook and Daddy could see it at work. Daddy gets up really early in the morning and drinks coffee. Mostly, I don't get to see him in the morning, so I get very excited in the afternoon and yell "DADDY!" on the way down our street. On Saturdays, he holds me in his lap and we watch cartoons while Mommy sleeps until I go in her room and put shoes on her bed so she'll come watch cartoons too. My favorite cartoon right now is Dora and Boots.

I love my Daddy very much. He plays sandbox and cars with me, and he can reach up to the top of the playground and catch me and make sure I get down all the slides on my pockets and not on my face. He helps me a lot and makes yummy grilled chicken for me outside. He hugs me and tells me he loves me. Lately, Mommy and Daddy have been asking me if I love them. It's funny to say no, because they make funny faces. So I started to say "No-yesh" just today because I do love them a lot. I really love when one of them picks me up from school. One day I hope that I can be tall and handsome like my Daddy and a good cook too. I can't wait to drive his red car. He is the best Daddy and my favorite is on Saturdays when he gives me a banana to eat and I watch Dora. Have I mentioned I like Dora? She's my favorite. And Daddy. He's my favorite. And me. I'm my favorite too.

Doggie. ~By Shepard

My Grandma is awesome. I love her a lot. She came to visit me and played Giddyup Go! with me. And I even am getting pretty good at saying "Gammma." I was sad when she had to go away, but she left her dog TUX to play with me for a week before Thanksgiving. I really love Tux. When he wags his tail, I just laugh and try to catch it but it goes really fast and I can't get a hold of it. Daddy calls him "Batfish," 'cause he looks like a cross between a bat and a catfish but he's a dog. I don't really get that yet.

That's Tux on your left. And me, and Daddy's legs in the background.

Trying to get some kisses.

One of my favorite things to do while Tux was here was get him to give me kisses. Mommy tried to get some pictures of it. I am a very good dogsitter if you need anyone to give you a hand during the holidays I am here to help.

Happy Birthday, Gigi! ~By Shepard

Today my Gigi is ## years old. Oh wait. Mommy said I can't put that. She is old enough to know lots of things and young enough to chase me. I love my Gigi lots. She was in the room when I took my first breath and so she has known me my whole life. I hope she has a great birthday. I'm glad that she's my Gigi. She likes to hold me and make me laugh.

I drew Gigi a picture but Mommy forgot to put it in the mailbox before we left for Thanksgiving. Mommy said that she's sorry. It will get in the mail today. I can't wait to see my Gigi and Pops in a few weeks, 'cause they are going to come up and see me and help out while Mommy sings in a play. They are fun and I love them both. Help me wish my Gigi a happy birthday. Ok, I have to go now because it's almost time for lunch. I like lunch almost as much as Gigi. Almost.

Mr. Fussy Britches ~By Shepard

Every day the world is making more sense. I'm starting to use some words and the teachers and mommy and daddy can understand. They still don't really understand when I just open my mouth and see how loud I can be. I wish they did. I'm very good at using my lungs and making high-pitched noises. I have been practicing it a lot but it's really because my mouth hurts a lot because I am getting giant teeth all over the place. Sometimes I find myself making my loud noises and crying and they don't know what I want at all. It will be nice when I learn some words for ouch and thirsty. Sometimes Mommy calls me "Mr. Fussy Britches." I just want to do what I want to do. What's so wrong about that?
I am really good at sleeping all night though. I have been sleeping between 11-14 hours a night lately with barely a wake-up. I am growing a lot lately, so I have to sleep a lot. Plus I run around all day at school, and we go outside twice a day and I get to swing and slide and play. I nap at school, too, on my monkey mat. It's soft and nice to sleep on.
I went to the doctor today for my check-up. Guess what? I have grown TWO WHOLE INCHES in the last three months! I am 34" tall and offically off the percentile chart. The computer told mommy I was 98.8th percentile and the doctor said 100th. I am already getting too big for some of my 18 month stuff and wearing 2T. The doctor also said I had long feet, but they go with my height. I like my feet. They carry me all kinds of places. I am starting to climb on things like the ottoman, hearth, sofa and pretty much anything I can. Mommy is always right behind me in case I don't make it. I weighed 23 lbs. and 14 oz. so I'm in the 41st percentile for weight. I will probably look a lot like my dad. Tall and handsome. They told us how big my head is, but I can't remember it right now. I'll have Mommy look it up and write it on here soon. She is good at recording that stuff so we can make sure I'm growing right.
I still really love pizza and lasagna, and love to eat my broccoli, cauliflower and carrots with a little cheese sauce. I also love PB-banana sandwiches and yogurt and cheesesticks. I eat fruit every day. Lately, I like to see my food hit the floor or see if I can drop it on the dog as he hovers below the high chair. It I'm a good shot, I can get a cheerio right on his head! Mommy keeps telling me, "NO THROW!" but she must not know how much fun it is for me to hold up the food and drop it. It always falls the same way. But bananas look different on the floor, and noodles are fun too.
That's all for now. My Grandma's coming over tonight, so I will be happy to see her. We will have fun this weekend...and remember my Papa. It's been a year since he went to heaven. We miss him a lot. I wish I could have known him and he could see how big I'm getting. I will have Mommy send a note to heaven and make sure he knows we love him.
I have to go nap now. Writing makes me sleepy.

DADDY!!!! -- by Shepard

I heard that tomorrow is Father's Day. So I am writing an extra-special post for my daddy. He is the best daddy. He loves me a lot I just know it. He can never resist picking me up when I shoot him my cute face and stretch my arms up and say "Dada." He gets up with me early in the morning and makes my bottle and then snuzzles me on the couch and we look at Sesame Street and sometimes I fall back asleep and he lays me back down. He's a good snuzzler. He is always ready to help Mommy with a bottle or diapers or anything, except a bath, 'cause he has to lean over the tub and his back is cracked and it hurts. But Mommy gives good baths, so it's ok. I like to sit on his shoulders and see everything in the whole world. It makes me taller than every kid I know. I also like to watch my daddy's fish in the tank and he takes good care of them too so we can all watch them swim. They are pretty. I love my daddy and so I made a video for him for Father's Day. Well, my Mommy mostly did it, but I am in it and I tried to help her by pressing buttons on the keyboard and pulling on the mouse. I'm pretty sure that was what made it really extra good. Mommy said it's kinda long, but if you're here, then you like us and won't mind watching it. I hope my daddy has a really good day tomorrow and we are going to go to the beach and have some fun. There will be pictures of that when we get back but not before because we are going to be unplugged whatever that is.

Happy Father's Day, Daddy. We put some special stuff about Papa Jones in there too because it's our first Father's Day without him. So we will be happy and sad at the same time and that's ok.

NINE MONTHS OLD!!!!! by Shepard

Today, I am nine months old. I am almost as old as it took to grow me. Everything is really really interesting to me. Since I have discovered crawling I just want to crawl everywhere and touch everything and pull myself up on my knees and see if I can taste it. I do not have any teeth. Mommy keeps joking that we've been blaming everything on teething for a few months now but since I don't have teeth we have to stop that. Today I went down the hall and found the air conditioning grate. It is great. I can run my fingers up it and make noises over and over and over then mommy makes me stop because of my fingers and it is metal. She wants to find me some kind of music instrument. If it is as fun as the grate, that would be nice. I like the noise it makes. When I reach out and hold on to the hearth I can stand on my own feet. It's a little scary but really fun too. Mommy and Daddy help me stand up sometimes and I shake around like Elvis (whoever that is) and then sit on my bum. I am a really good crawler and am excited about maybe walking or at least standing up more.
Here are pictures of me from Sunday when I was exploring in the den.

My favorite toys are just about anything that makes a crunchy noise or rattles and I still like to taste everything especially the remote control but mommy's afraid if I play with it one day it will end up outside or in the toilet so she doesn't let me see it much. Mostly I like to go places. I went through a growth spurt a few weeks ago when I ate a lot...even in the middle of the night! But I think I like sleeping at night more now so I don't wake up so much. Mommy seems happier about that, but she told me that she would always feed me when I'm hungry no matter what time of the day.

Here is a picture of me with my Mommy and Daddy before church. I love them a lot. I think they love me too. They are always saying it and kissing my head. I like being nine months old. I am growing and learning a lot. Next week, the doctor will tell us how I'm doing. Mommy will probably write all that stuff down here for you to read. I am ready to go crawl some more so bye bye.

I'm tall. By Shepard

Modeling my new beanie from Nicole

Today I went to see the doctor. He's a big guy who always pokes at me and puts the cold tubey thing on my chest. He also looks in my ears. I guess he's making sure I still have a brain or something.
He says I look very good. Then the short blond lady comes in and I don't know what she was doing on my leg 'cause I was looking at mommy but it pinched and made me cry. Mommy said that it would keep me healthy. Mommy thought she was making me think about something else with that bug toy but it still hurt but only for a minute then I was better.
In the folder with all of my stuff the doctor wrote on the tall chart, "Father 6'10"." That must mean something about Daddy being as tall as the doorway. I wonder if I will be tall like a doorway. I am taller than 95% of other baby boys my age. Mommy knew this must be happening because every time she puts a new outfit on me it doesn't seem to fit right. I thought maybe she would cry this morning when those brown overalls were too short. She called them highwaters and showed Daddy and said it's all your fault. And my ankles got cold. So she took them off and was talking about how she would have to learn how to sew more than just german outfits so she could make clothes that would fit me. I hope she works something out because I don't just want for my ankles to be cold a lot.

Smiling boy with cow and pig

Everything else is going just fine. I already weigh 15 and a half pounds so the doctor said I could eat some cereal. I wonder if that tastes like what Mommy and Daddy eat, because sometimes their food is stinky like that curry stuff Daddy eats. I'm not sure about all that. I will let you know what I decide.  I like being four months old because I get to sit in my bumbo seat and I think they are going to put together my exersaucer. I think I will like to exersauce. I have seen my friends exersauce at school and it looks like fun especially because there are things I can put in my mouth and press on.

Mmmm...pork.

I like school pretty good. I get to see other babies there and play with them and nap. Speaking of nap...see you later!

I'm one month old today! {by Shepard}

I went to the doctor today; and he said I'm thriving, I have good color, and big feet. (People keep talking about my feet...especially Mommy)
I am just a little over 10 pounds, 22 and 3/4 inches long, and my head is 15 inches all the way around. I'm growing like a weed! Though I think I'm cuter than a weed. Except dandelions. Those are nice-looking weeds.
I'm just about out of my smallest onesies now and have pretty much graduated to size one diapers. I like to see how many diapers I can fill each day. I really like to do the poops when Daddy is holding me. Even better if I can get him to change me and then do a re-fill.
What?
Oh, mom says I'm not supposed to talk about poop so much.
Alright.
Well, life is good. Please enjoy these videos. One is of me sucking my pacifier like IT'S MY JOB, and the other is me drifting off to sleep in my crib today.
{YAWN}

My First Ten Days. By Shepard Jones

Mommy said I could narrate this post, so I will tell you all about my first ten days. She has pictures to put in too.
I got here on Wednesday night. Dr. Hansen-Lindner caught me and I let out a big cry to let everyone know I was there. Nana Giles and Daddy were there too. They weighed me and poked me and did all kinds of things, and it was really bright. But I'm a tough guy. Everyone seemed enthralled with my long fingers and big feet.

After a few days in the hospital, we got to go home! Here I am with Mommy waiting for our ride.

And here I am in my carseat for the first time. Wonder if I'll grow into this? It seems awfully big.

Daddy introduced me to his fishes, and we took a little tour of the house.


We spent a few days getting into little routines. I mostly ate and pooped and tinkled...and cried a lot. Everyone likes to hold me and tells me I'm very cute.




 I am sleeping in my newborn nest. It is very cozy. See?

On Sunday, I wore my very special Renovatus onesie. Mommy had to tell me what Renovatus is. She said it's a great place where we see our friends, sing songs, and learn about Jesus called church. Sounds like fun. When I'm a little older I will get to go there and see what is going on. Meanwhile, I will wear my sporty onesie.

Also on Sunday, I had a bath. I did not like this bath. I screamed a lot. After, they wrapped me up in a towel, and I was glad it was over. Then I pooped. Daddy and Mommy laughed for a long time. Daddy was holding me in my fresh towel and there wasn't a diaper on yet. Here, it's just before I did the poop. Daddy is smiling because he likes me. I hope he still likes me after I pooped. I think he does.



That night, there were lots of loud noises. Mommy explained that it was America's birthday and sang "America the Beautiful" to me. I slept through most of the loud noises. I hope my birthday isn't so noisy.


On Monday, we said goodbye to Nana and Papa Giles. They went back to Georgia. We will all miss them. They are very nice. I really want to meet my Grandpa and Grandma Jones. Mommy and Daddy have told me all about them. Grandpa is sick, so hopefully I will see them very soon.
I met my Uncle Justin and Aunt Jessica on Monday. I like them a lot. They ate stinky food called Thai food. They all seem to like it a lot. I think I like what I eat better. We forgot to take pictures of this visit. Hopefully Mommy won't let that happen again when I meet important people.
Tuesday was a big day. We all went out and met my pediatrician. That's a fancy word for kid doctor. I like my kid doctor. He was nice. He poked me with metal things and shined a light in my eyes, but he said that I was very healthy. Mommy and Daddy seemed good with that.
Tuesday night, our routine changed a whole bunch. Mommy woke up from a nap and was very cold. She put on a robe and wrapped up in a blanket. I didn't think it was that cold in the house. Later, Daddy found three thermometers and was trying to see if Mommy was the right temperature. I could tell you she wasn't. I couldnt even eat my dinner because she was way too hot! I got stuffed in a car seat and we went to a place called the E.R. It was not a fun place. Mommy was very concerned about something called "germs" and prayed for me a lot. Daddy held me for a long time and had to change my diaper a couple of times. After a few hours, Mommy went upstairs and got scanned by a cat. Finally, we ended up right back on the eighth floor where my whole life started. I was starving! I hadn't had a full meal in hours. The nice people at the hospital gave us something called formula. They told Mommy not to feed me for a while since she had some special medicines. It was long night. I cried a lot because I wanted to eat and be at my nice house.
But guess what? Nana and Papa came back all the way from Georgia!
We spent a few days in the hospital again while Mommy got better. They gave her antibiotics. I was really glad they let her feed me again. Mommy was sad that the hospital people would not let her sleep. Finally on Thursday night she got some sleep though.
By Friday, we were all very ready to go home. The doctor said that everything was all better and that we could go home. It's a good thing because Mommy had crazy eyes from being in the small room again for several days. I don't mind small rooms. But Mommy does.

On the way home I went to my very first restaurant. It had a funny name. Qdoba. Again with the stinky food. Mommy was excited to see trees and other people besides nurses...but not very excited that it was so hot outside. It was almost 100 degrees. I think it was about that temperature in the womb too, but big people don't seem to like it as much as I did.

Here's me and Mommy in the middle of the night.

That about sums up my first ten days. I hope you will come back and visit my site again. I'm sure I will be up to all kinds of interesting things...